IceStorm Posted December 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2019 ~~~Ice Storm~~~ Ice once again raised her eyebrow when she mentioned Celestia again. It would seem that the news hadn't made it to her yet. "Actually Celestia isn't the one in charge of or behind this. In fact Celestia never even knew. The only Alicorn that knows this place even exists is my close friend Luna. and even then I was hesitant on informing her, but I needed a rock for this organization to look to that I could trust myself. My own loyalty is bound by Aether to the moon. Everypony else thinks I'm a business mare and a powerful leader in the Lunar guard. That's how I prefer to keep it right now because if we need to do something preemptively, all Equestrian forces have plausible deniability. When dealing with potential war time politics, plausible deniability is the best thing this country can ask for. That being said, the Royal and Lunar Guards were all reformed under Twilight's ascension. I remained with Luna. She's my friend and they've made plenty of enemies while on the throne, Luna Especially because of her time as the nightmare. Of course she insists that she'd be fine, but i still keep an eye out for suspicious activity around her. She may not be a princess anymore but I'm not going to let someone hurt a friend either," Ice started. "Of course, that simple fact alone makes Equestria more vulnerable than ever. A shift in power is the most opportune moment for an enemy of Equestria to strike and I am saddened to say that while the Shadow of Ice is technically operational, she won't be finished for another month or so yet. My other ships will be ready to go, but we won't be able to stave off a powerful invasion force without that ship. Tempest and the storm king showed us that. I was a member of EPIC when they bypassed every single defensive unit that we had set up. Naturally that was the first mare that I acquired for my little project here. We've tweaked the original design of the ship a bit to make the aether flow better around it," Ice Started as the started making their way towards the ship. She could also see the analytics going on in the scientist's mind. She herself was no mind reader, but she had a general guess. "I can see the wheels turning in your head and I am quite aware of her weak-points and her general weaknesses as well. That is why she won't be unguarded and she'll never be flown directly over a city. A ship this size could easily do catastrophic damage to any city it hits in every sense of the word. If everything goes the way that I'm hoping it would, the mere sight of it will be enough to detour combat. The cannons cannot be fire haphazardly, less they accidentally hit a civilian entity, and missing a target with projectile cannons from this altitude is not only unacceptable, but a dangerous war crime. I would love nothing more to replace them with magic focusing canons but I don't have the technology capable of doing that yet. Shoot the very core that we're using in it was a prototype design that I used my connections in EPIC to lift from the navy. They've never been tested, but to see that the ship is powering itself means that it's working. Until I know exactly how much power that ship is going to need, then I don't want to put excess drain on the cores." "Otherwise I've taken precautions to ensure that the ship itself leaves as little of an environmental hoofprint as I can. Aside from the metals and woods that I've had to use to construct her, she's very efficient. It doesn't do me any good to protect Equestria if in doing so, I'm killing her from all the byproducts this thing creates. By using Aether as fuel, theoretically it should dissipate it back into the environment, thus allowing it to be an endless perpetual cycle. I will have to do some tests to make sure that the Aether isn't giving off some unknown radiation in the process. I'm having some of my workers run preliminary tests on it now while it's idling to see if that's something that we need to be concerned about going forward. I'm really trying to make sure all bases are covered before we launch her. Again, I don't want the thing that I'm building to protect Equestria lead to it's demise," she finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Posted December 12, 2019 Report Share Posted December 12, 2019 Harle sighed, this pony wasn't seeing the forest for the trees, but it wasn't her place to try and explain it to her, but she stopped and blinked "wait, what? sunbutt's not in charge anymore? when did this happen!?" "a few months ago actually" commented Singlestone "Why did nocreature tell me?!" exclaimed the griffon "would it have change anything you were doing?" "well... no..." "So why bother you with it" said the unicorn Harle sighed, more than a little annoyed but also understanding the logic. When Ice spoke about the weapons though, Singelstone's eyes sparkled "No." said Harle "We already talked about scaling up the death ray, doc, you said it couldn't be done" "Not on our ship, but on something like this...." Harle's eyes narrowed Singlestone sighed "It would be a lot safer than what they're using now" Harle sighed, closed her eyes a moment in thought, then turned to ice "...I might have a solution to your problem with your artillery" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceStorm Posted December 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2019 ~~~Ice Storm~~~ The revelation seemed to come at a shock to Harle and when she asked about it she couldn't deny the logic in Singelstone's response. When she started talking about the weapons on the shop much to her expectations, Singelstone reacted liked he'd just walked into a candy store. Him and Harle started talking about something like a death ray and it piqued her interests. To the same extent though, if they had something like that... She wonder if it could be adjusted as well. Ice nodded to Harle's comment about possibly being able to deal with the artillery problem. "If you have information on using aether or some other form of ammunition that won't leave devastating craters in the event they miss their intended targets, I'm all ears. As I said, I'm wanting to protect Equestria. An aether cannon would be much more preferable than what I currently have," she stated leading them into the ship. "While we're here I can show you the inner workings of the systems and see if there's anything you can add to make them more efficient that won't add a lot of cost or production time." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Posted December 13, 2019 Report Share Posted December 13, 2019 Harley sighed, rummaging around in her pockets until she found a scrap of wood.... why it was there was not questioned... she tossed it on the ground and then reached into her coat and drew out a large weapon. ot appeared to be a long tube with bulky blocks on either side and a trigger on the grip. she fired it at the wood and smoke rose from it, leaving a nice black dot. Harle though held up her claw to keep ice silenced, and fired again. Now there was a tiny whirring from the weapon and steam was rising from it. Harle fired three more times, and now a lit lit up on the weapon, she flipped the switch, and this time when she pulled the trigger, there was a loud CRACK of electricity as lightning leapt from the weapon into the piece of wood, completely obliterating it. Harley spun the weapon on her claw, though not for show, it was actually to help cool it off before returning it to her coat "So it's not technically a 'death ray' but it usually gets the job done. Also starts fires" she explained ((also, keep in mind, this is not a small weapon, it has a pistol grip, but its more the size of a sawed off shotgun in order to hold enough dynamos and capacitors)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceStorm Posted December 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2019 ~~~Ice Storm~~~ Ice watched as the griffon pulled out the weapon in question. The design seemed a bit... Simplistic yet complex. She watched as the first shot was fired. Then a second, then a third. There wasn't much except from smoke from the first few shots but the forth shot... The forth shot was the one that sold her. "I'll need to know more about what exactly the first couple shots can do. If we can use it to disable components of the enemy ship without taking it out, causing collateral casualties on the ground this would be the perfect weapon for the ship. Three warning shots is more than enough to get the point across. If they pursue beyond that well... They bear all responsibility for what happens afterwards. My question is, what is it using to make the shots, and how long, and how much would it take to convert these to that kind of system?" Ice asked. "If nothing else, we'll have to produce those separately and install them after launch once they've been tested. Can put an untested weapon on something of this magnitude." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Posted December 14, 2019 Report Share Posted December 14, 2019 "You have to fire it a few times first to charge it up, the heat is what makes the final blast" she said Singlestone shook his head at the overly simplified explanation "On a ship this large I can design a system that doesn require charging up" he explained "on the Captain's gun the heat is producing the electricity, but on a ship of that size, you could devote an entire engine room to producing hte power, though you'd still need the heat ray to guide the blast" he paused "and it must be preciciely calibrated or else when it fires it will either discharge straight into the ground, or, unfortunately likely, it may strike the ship... the beam last only a split second, so if anything's off by fractions of that time...." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceStorm Posted December 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2019 ~~~Ice Storm~~~ "Could this weapon be modified to fire aether instead of electricity? Both are forms of rear energy so if that is capable of harnessing the aspect of electricity, one could reasonably believe that it could also harness the power of aether. With it hooked up to the aether generators, as you said it would already have it's energy reserve. That would solve the issue of it's potential erraticness of the weapon and make it safer for the ship. Cause even if aether hit the ship, the wild wood would direct it back to the generators. As long as it didn't overload those, the shop can take a decent hit and shrug it off," Ice asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Posted December 15, 2019 Report Share Posted December 15, 2019 Singlestone rubbed his chin "perhaps... I am not terribly familiar with Aether technology, but I am willing to experiment if you can provide me the materials" he explained Harley just leaned against the wall, letting them talk, this was way over her head... ironic since she had been taught how to build and maintain airships, but on the other claw, this was all new since her father was forced into retirement so she didn't have anygriff to teach her about it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceStorm Posted December 15, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2019 ~~~Ice Storm~~~ "Not only can I set you an aether core to work with, I can also have my shop builders instruct you on how to maintain it," Ice Storm said before turning to Harle when had gone quite. "If you and your crew want to experiment with some of the things that I have her, have them come through the emergency exit that your hanger is in. It would raise suspicion if an entire group of ponies walked into my casino only to not walk out again. And let's be honest here. With an entire crew already at the helm, you wouldn't be walking out the front door. You'd either be leaving on your ship, or if you choose to upgrade, one of the new destroyers like what you saw already. If you choose to keep you ship, we can fit it with some of the upgrades to make it stronger but still looking the same." Ice added. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Posted December 15, 2019 Report Share Posted December 15, 2019 Harle looked up so fast it was amazing there wasn't a *snap* sound, now Ice has her attention "Well, the ship is getting old..." started singlestone "No, nothing doin'!" said Harle "I built that ship myself, my own blood swet and tears went into it, along with my dad - it was the last ship he ever built, so I'm not going to scap it just because it's a little old and outdated" though she was clearly more speaking to singlestone than Ice given how her gaze fell on her first-mate. Singelstone sighed "well, then I suppose we take the second option" he said "Though given the time it will take to retrofit it, perhaps we could get a loaner of one of the new ships" clearly he had no such attachment to harle's ship and was likely thinking that if he got her on one of the new ones, she would quickly forget about her old one... the look he was giving ice as he subtly nodded at harle, hopefully Ice would realize singlestone's plan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceStorm Posted December 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 ~~~Ice Storm~~~ That was about the reaction that Ice was expecting. From both of them honestly. She figured that the engineer would jump at the chance to get ahold of one of her new ships, but she also figured there was sentimental value of the ship Harle had. She had good reason to want to hold onto it as well. The ship being the one she and her father built, and the last one her father built to boot. Still, Singlestone brought up a point though. It would take a bit to fit the ship with the new components. "I'd never ask you to replace your ship, but the offer to stands. I understand what that she means to you and I'm more than willing to upgrade some of the components in it and repair any hull damages it might have on it from your occupation. Of course, you understand that will take time. You can use that time to get familiar to the base, or you can use one of my destroyers until it's ready. I can even make it resemble your ship so that others don't get suspicious of you. Plus as I said before, I can also put you with my builders so that you could learn to build one of these for yourself if you'd like." Ice said to Harle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 Harle shook her head "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not that smart, I'm sure Singlestone would love to learn more about it, but I'm sticking with good old wood and steam for my ship-building if I ever make another one... honestly it was more for the sake of spending time with my dad than really wanting to learn to build ships" she admitted "Adding some panels to make it look like the Wings' would be a good idea, especially until you can get our names cleared - dont want ponies to think we stole one of your ships" he explained "Yeah, I dont mind a day or two, the crew would probably enjoy it, but we get restless staying in one place too long - Free Spirits and all that" commented Harle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceStorm Posted December 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2019 ~~~Ice Storm~~~ "I'll have my engineers do what they can without compromising the integrity of the ship itself. I do know gone the smaller ships that were completed, their shape matters. It shouldn't be too hard to make that work though. They'll need a blueprint of the ship to both figure out structurally how to integrate the core and some of the newer weaponry as well as how to make one of ours look like it temporarily, which might have to be as simple as sending one of my mages with you and keeping up an illusion spell over the ship. Honestly that might be the easiest thing to do. Likewise we don't others thinking you've stolen a ship as well, but at the moment, can the only ones that knows this place exists is the ones that are already here. This base isn't public knowledge," Ice commented. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Posted December 18, 2019 Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 Singestone nodded "of course" he looked then to harle Harle sighed hard, leaning her head against the wall "of course you want the blueprints..." she said "...they're probably still in my dad's old shop, I have been there since he had to close years ago... its going to be a rough place to go back to after all these years..." "you make it sound like its been a century, captain" commented singlestone "five years... it might as well have been a century... too many memories there" "if its too hard on you, captain, I can go myself, I'm sure I can find the proper blueprints" harle shook her head "no, this is something I need to face anyway... I keep putting it off... been doing it for five years now, its time i faced it..." "it must be hard to see the workshop and not your dad" "you have no idea" commented harle somberly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceStorm Posted December 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 ~~~Ice Storm~~~ Ice listened as she heard Harle and Singlestone start talking about the hanger that they had built the ship in. Harms stated that if there was any place the blueprints would be, they would be there. She didn't seem to be overly thrilled to be going back there as apparently the wounds from losing her father were still fresh. Ice herself Diane really know what to say. How could she? Her family abandoned her when she was five so she never had that Kline growing up or that ability to get close with her family. Still, feelings like that were important for those who had families and Ice knew that she was the odd one out of most. "I can say with absolute certainty that I can really only imagine what you're going through. But I can also say based on what small bit of speaking and interacting with you is that you're a strong griff. I'm sure your father would be proud of what you've become," Ice said hoping it at least have some comfort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashton Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 Harle sighed but smiled a tiny smile "maybe... its not every chick that can avoid the law like I can" she tried to laugh but it died in her throat "He'd be amazed the bucket of bolts is still flying after how much stuff we had to fix on it... it was a family project and near the end with the business drying up after all the slander started we were using salvaged parts... between what was already broken and what I broke trying to learn to build and maintain the ship, it's a miracle it ever flew... I really wish I coudl tell him its not only still flying, but it going to be better than ever... he'd be so happy to hear it... I'd give anything to be able to show him when its done, his jaw would hit the floor..." she sighed, closing her eyes, forcing the feelings and the tears back "'es where ah got me pirate accen' from" she said "he was from Canterbury, met my mum on a trial fight of one of his ships for a client when he was still just an apprentice... long story from there" she said awkwardly She was quiet for a moment "Singlestone, take care of the crew and make sure all the goods are safe, see to it that that the Wings gets proper care while they look her over and prepare for the upgrades" "of course, captain, and you?" She sighed "...I'm going home..." she said as she started back down the hallway Singlestone smiled and quietly said to Ice "wait for it.... wait... almost.... and... now..." "How do I get out of this bloody big place!" exclaimed harle as she re-entered the hanger Singelstone just smiled, he knew her all too well. "I remember the way out well enough" he said, turning to Ice and nodding politely "its been a pleasure, I hope to speak with you and your associates again later" As they walked back Ice might hear harle mutter "I could have fount my way out if this place was smaller..." "I'm sure you could have captain, I'm sure you could have....." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts